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About the MBA
The charitable aims of the Marine Biological Association (MBA) are:
‘to promote scientific research into all aspects of life in the sea, including the environment on which it depends, and to disseminate to the public the knowledge gained.’
The MBA achieves these aims through its membership, through the work of the JMBA, through high quality research and through its education and outreach programmes. The MBA actively looks for members to support the work of the Assocation worldwide.
The MBA was founded in 1884 and in 1888 opened the Plymouth Laboratory at Citadel Hill.
Click here for a list of MBA Council members.
Membership
The MBA is a professional body for marine biologists with over 1000 members world-wide. For more on becoming a member, its benefits and activities click here.
Scientific Research
The MBA has earned an international reputation for excellence and innovation in research, by the resident scientific staff and visiting research workers, including seven Nobel laureates. The laboratory in Plymouth has provided facilities since 1888 for in-house and visiting researchers. Some of the earliest research at Plymouth was to identify the marine life present in the area. Those surveys now provide valuable data against which to identify how the sea has changed in relation to impacts. The MBA now supports a wide range of research activities from cell and molecular to understanding ecosystem structure and functioning.
Oceans 2025
The Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC) is finding a national programme of Strategic Research called Oceans 2025. The MBA will contribute via research groups in: Cell and Molecular Processes and Ecosystem and Environmental Change. For more information on Research and Oceans 2025 click here.
Long-term studies of marine ecosystems
Using the extensive body of information from over 100 years of research at Plymouth, the MBA is undertaking long term work on changes in fish and plankton, and leads the Marine Environmental Change Network. The MBA also led the MarClim programme, studying rocky shore indicators of climate change.
Details of the 2004 Science and Management Audit of the MBA can be found here.
MBA Knowledge Transfer Activities
JMBA
The Journal of the Marine Biological Association (JMBA) publishes original research in marine sciences. JMBA2 ‘Marine Biodiversity’ publishes short communications on Web pages (indexed in JMBA).
National Marine Biological Library
The National Marine Biological Library (NMBL) is one of the largest libraries in the world specialising in marine life and environmental sciences and a premier source of marine biological information. The NMBL maintains long runs of marine science journals and archives personal papers, notebooks and photographs reflecting the origins and early history of British marine science.
DASSH
The MBA hosts the Data Archive for Seabed Species and Habitats (DASSH) part of the UK Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN)
Marine Life Information Network (MarLIN)
MarLIN was started in 1998 and disseminates knowledge for marine environmental management, protection and education including undertaking commissioned research and education.
Education and Outreach
The MarLIN programme supports marine life recording and engages schools and the public through surveys and events, including seashore safaris.
MBA Courses and Workshops
The MBA runs a Masters of Research (MRes) course in Marine Biology jointly with the University of Plymouth.
MBA Courses and workshops are held in the Marine Life and Environmental Sciences Resource Centre.
The South West Marine Science Forum
The South West Marine Science Forum was conceived at a workshop at the MBA, ,Managing water quality on the SW European Marine Sites (EMS): the way forward,.
The forum consists of researchers from the scientific community, and representatives from statutory authorities, conservation bodies and industry. The initial focus was primarily in relation to Habitats Regulations, though it is now clear that the outputs from the work have wider application in relation to the future management of these and other sites, for example in relation to the implementation of the Water Framework Directive during the forthcoming years.
Principal aims of the SW forum are:
- To discuss and address common issues in relation to south west marine sites and water quality;
- To clarify environmental questions: To link people/institutions/management in the SW and share information and experience;
- To convert policy into applicable research; To develop research needs/proposals;
- To communicate the scientific initiatives in the SW, and the benefits, to the public.